U.S. patent number 4,463,474 [Application Number 06/385,493] was granted by the patent office on 1984-08-07 for vacuum cleaner.
Invention is credited to Paul G. Jacobs.
United States Patent |
4,463,474 |
Jacobs |
August 7, 1984 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner is provided which includes an easily removable
recovery tank mounted on a support structure and having a cover on
the tank forming a vacuum chamber in the tank, the cover being
hinged to the support structure by a hollow hinge. A vacuum fan is
mounted on the support structure and draws air from the vacuum
chamber through the cover and through the hollow hinge.
Inventors: |
Jacobs; Paul G. (Northridge,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23521605 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/385,493 |
Filed: |
June 7, 1982 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/353; 55/319;
55/320; 95/214; 95/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
7/0042 (20130101); A47L 7/0038 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
7/00 (20060101); A47L 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/321,353,339,320
;141/98,286,325-327 ;99/467,472-474 ;220/366 ;16/386
;55/319,320 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; Chris K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee &
Utecht
Claims
I claim:
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a support structure;
an open recovery tank for receiving soiled material to be retained
in said vacuum cleaner, said tank being releasably mounted in said
structure;
a cover on said tank having a seal for cooperating with the
periphery of said open top, forming a vacuum chamber in said tank,
said cover being hinged to said support structure by a hollow hinge
means;
a fan mounted on said support structure, said fan having an air
inlet and an air outlet;
a first passage through said cover for permitting said soiled
material to pass into said vacuum chamber; and
a second passage through said cover placing said inlet of said fan
in communication with said vacuum chamber, a portion of said second
passage being comprised of said hollow hinge means.
2. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 further including a
filter means in said cover interposed in said second passage
between said vacuum chamber and said hollow hinge means.
3. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein said filter
means is removable from said cover directly above said recovery
tank thereby causing any soil which may fall from said filter means
during such removal to fall into said recovery tank.
4. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support
structure includes a base mounted on rolling means and said fan is
located on said base.
5. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fan is
driven by a motor, a control for said motor is located on said
cover, said control communicating with said motor, in part, through
said hollow hinge means.
6. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein said recovery
tank is a generally cylindrical pail which stands loosely in said
support structure and includes a handle to facilitate manual
removal from and insertion into said support structure.
7. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
a support structure;
an open-faced recovery tank for receiving soiled material to be
retained in said vacuum cleaner, said tank being releasably mounted
in said structure;
means for closing said tank and thereby forming a vacuum chamber
therein;
means for drawing air out of said vacuum chamber, said drawing
means being mounted on said support structure;
an inlet passage through said closing means for permitting soiled
material to pass into said vacuum chamber;
an outlet passage through said closing means, said outlet passage
providing an air flow path for placing said drawing means in
communication with said vacuum chamber; and
means for pivoting said closing means, said pivoting means defining
a portion of said air flow path.
8. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7 including filter means
interposed in said outlet passage between said vacuum chamber and
said pivoting means.
9. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 8 wherein said filter
means is removable from said closing means directly above said
recovery tank thereby causing any soil which may fall from said
filter means during such removal to fall into said recovery
tank.
10. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7 including a control
for said drawing means located on said closing means, said control
communicating with said drawing means, in part, through said
pivoting means.
11. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7 wherein said recovery
tank is a generally cylindrical pail which stands loosely in said
support structure and includes a handle to facilitate manual
removal from and insertion into said support structure.
12. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pivoting
means includes a hollow hinge which attaches said closing means to
said support structure.
13. A vacuum cleaner supported on a movable base, said vacuum
cleaner comprising:
an open-faced recovery tank for receiving soiled material to be
retained in said vacuum cleaner, said tank being releasably mounted
in the movable base;
means for closing said tank and thereby forming a vacuum chamber
therein;
a fan mounted on the movable base, said fan having an air inlet and
an air outlet;
a first passage through said closing means for permitting soiled
material to pass into said vacuum chamber;
a second passage through said closing means placing said inlet of
said fan in communication with said vacuum chamber;
a hollow hinge providing a point of attachment for said closing
means to the movable base, the interior of said hollow hinge
forming a portion of said second passage; and
means for filtering soil from the air exiting said closing means,
said filtering means being interposed in said second passage
between said vacuum chamber and said hollow hinge.
14. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 13 wherein said
filtering means is removable from said vacuum cleaner directly
above said recovery tank thereby causing any soil which may fall
from said filtering means during such removal to fall into said
recovery tank.
15. A vacuum cleaner a set forth in claim 13 wherein said fan is
driven by a motor, and a control for said motor is located on said
closing means, said control communicating with said motor, in part,
through said hollow hinge.
16. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 13 wherein said recovery
tank is a generally cylindrical pail which stands loosely in the
movable base and includes a handle to facilitate manual removal
from and insertion into the movable base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners, and more
particularly, to commercial vacuum cleaners having a relatively
large soil retention tank and a relatively large and powerful
vacuum fan.
As is well known in the art, it is highly desirable for any vacuum
cleaner to be easily handled for moving about in the work area, and
it is also desirable that the soil retention container of the
vacuum cleaner be easily and conveniently emptied and restored in
the vacuum cleaner in condition for use. In vacuum cleaning devices
known heretofore it was necessary either to remove a clumsy and
dirty soil retention bag from the vacuum cleaner, or to disconnect
hose attachments from a removable recovery tank in order to remove
the tank to be emptied. In either of the above cases, it was highly
likely that soil would be spilled in the area of the vacuum
cleaner, and therefore it was necessary to transport the entire
vacuum cleaner device out of the area being cleaned to a disposal
area for emptying the soil retention container. In the latter case
described above, the attachments had to be reconnected before the
cleaning operation could resume.
Accordingly, there has existed a need for a vacuum cleaning device
which is convenient to operate and which includes a soil retention
tank which can be easily and neatly removed from the vacuum
cleaner, transported to a disposal area for emptying, and replaced
in the vacuum cleaner in condition for continued use. As will
become apparent from the following, the present invention satisfies
that need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention resides in a new and improved vacuum cleaner
which can be easily handled when in use, and which includes a
recovery tank arranged to be conveniently removed from the vacuum
cleaner to be emptied without having to disconnect any vacuum
conduits or the like. Moreover, the vacuum cleaner of the present
invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is trouble-free
and reliable in use, and can be adapted for use in cleaning both
wet and dry surfaces.
More specifically, the vacuum cleaner of the present inventon
includes a support structure upon which is carried an open top
recovery tank for retaining soilded solid or liquid material. A
cover overlies the open top of the recovery tank forming a vacuum
chamber in the tank, and the cover is hinged to the support
structure by a hollow hinge. A vacuum fan is mounted in a
relatively low position on the support structure and draws a vacuum
within the vacuum chamber through the cover and through the hollow
hinge. The cover also includes an opening into the vacuum chamber
which is in communication with a flexible vacuum hose attached to a
vacuum cleaning tool for cleaning a wet or dry surface. If desired,
the controls for operating the vacuum fan can be mounted on the
cover, and the wires for connecting the controls to the fan motor
can be led through a portion of the hollow hinge.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the
present invention, and illustrated as used for conventional dry
vacuum cleaning;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational view, partly in section, of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, and taken generally along line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top plan view, partly in section, of the
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, with portions broken away to illustrate
certain details of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, rear elevational view, partly in section, of
the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, with portions broken away to
illustrate further details of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the exemplary drawings, the present invention is
embodied in a portable vacuum cleaner which is primarily intended
for commercial use, but which can be easily adapted for home use,
and which is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1.
Electrical power is supplied to the vacuum cleaner 10 through a
conventional power cord 12, and the vacuum cleaner 10 is arranged
to draw a vacuum in a vacuum chamber 14 (FIG. 2), which in turn
draws air inwardly through a vacuum hose 16 shown in phantom line
in FIG. 1. One end of the vacuum hose 16 is secured to an input
nozzle 18 on the vacuum cleaner, and the other end of the vacuum
hose is connected to a vacuum cleaning tool (not shown) which can
be used in a conventional manner for vacuum cleaning any desired
surface, such as a floor.
If desired, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be constructed in combination
with a liquid cleaning solution spray applicator such as that
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,635. With this arrangement, the
vacuum cleaner 10 can be operated as a so-called "wet" vacuum
cleaner.
To form the vacuum chamber 14, a removable open top recovery tank
20 is mounted on a support structure 22 of the vacuum cleaner 10,
and the recovery tank 20 is closed by a cover 24 which includes a
soft peripheral seal 26 for bearing against the upper edge of the
tank 20. The cover 24 is hinged to the support structure by a
hollow hinge 30 so that the cover can be tipped up and away from
the top of the tank 20, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2. A
vacuum fan 32 is mounted on the support structure 22 for drawing a
vacuum in the vacuum chamber 14, and the support structure 22 is in
turn mounted on a set of rollers or casters 23 to provide the
desired mobility of the vacuum cleaner 10.
In accordance with the present invention, an intake 34 of the
vacuum fan 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) communicates with the vacuum
chamber 14 through the cover 24 and through the hollow hinge 30,
thereby accomplishing this necessary connection without having to
provide a fitting through the wall of the recovery tank 20, and
permitting the fan and its heavy motor 35 to be located in a
relatively low position on the support structure 22. With this
arrangement, the vacuum cleaner 10 is afforded a low center of
gravity making the vacuum cleaner 10 easy to handle in moving about
the work area. Further, this arrangement permits the recovery tank
20, which can simply be a steel or plastic pail, to be easily and
conveniently removed from the vacuum cleaner and emptied of soiled
material. Moreover, the vacuum cleaner 10 of the present invention
is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is touble-free and
reliable in use, and can easily be adapted for use in cleaning
either wet or dry surfaces.
When a vacuum is drawn in the vacuum chamber 14, air is drawn into
the recovery tank 20 through the vacuum hose 16, the nozzle 18 and
an elbow 36 which directs the air and accompanying soil downwardly
into the recovery tank 20. As indicated by the air hose in FIG. 2,
air is withdrawn from the vacuum chamber 14 through a screen 38, a
filter assembly 40 mounted in the cover 24, and through an opening
42 in the hollow hinge 30. As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4,
the air then proceeds through the hollow hinge 30, into an elbow 44
and an upright hollow tube 46 which forms part of the support
structure 22, and into the intake 34 of the vacuum fan through
appropriate connections shown partly in phantom line. The air is
finally exhausted to atmosphere from the vacuum fan 32 through an
outlet 48.
To facilitate easy removal of the recovery tank 20 for cleaning,
the cover 24, as mentioned above, is pivotally mounted about the
hollow hinge 30 which is retained at either end in elbows 44 and 50
mounted atop the upright hollow tubes 46 and 52 (see FIGS. 3 and
4). With this arrangement, the cover 24 can be rotated up and away
from the recovery tank 20 as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2, and
the tank can be lifted from the vacuum cleaner, as by a handle 21.
Moreover, when the tank 20 is replaced in the vacuum cleaner and
the cover 24 is returned to its operating position, as shown in
full line in FIG. 2, the vacuum drawn in the vacuum chamber during
operation holds the cover 24 tightly against the upper edge of the
tank 20 thereby providing the desired air-tight seal between the
cover and the tank.
If desired, the recovery tank 20 can be provided with a quantity of
water or other liquid 54 to help retain particles of soil within
the tank during operation of the vacuum cleaner 10. Even when this
is done, the filter assembly 40 will eventually need to be cleaned
or replaced. To accomplish this, the filter assembly 40, which is
retained in the cover 24 by any suitable means such as be retaining
plate 56, can be removed downwardly from the cover when the cover
is in its upright position as illustrated in phantom line in FIG.
2. It should be noted that with this arrangement, the filter
assembly 40 will be removed from the cover directly above the
recovery tank 20 thereby causing any soil which may fall from the
filter during removal to fall into the recovery tank, permitting
easy and convenient disposal of the filter assembly.
The vacuum cleaner 10 is preferably constructed with a control
switch 58 mounted on the cover 24 for convenient access by the user
of the vacuum cleaner 10. To connect the control switch 58 to the
motor 35 of the vacuum fan 32, wires can be led through a second
opening 60 in the hollow hinge 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and through
the elbow 50 and upright hollow tube 52 to the motor 35. Leading
the control wiring through the hollow hinge 30 and hollow upright
tube 52 permits this necessary connection to be made while
presenting a neat and orderly appearance of the vacuum cleaner 10.
When the hollow hinge 30 is being used for both transmission of the
vacuum air and for the control wiring, a separating wall 62 is
preferably inserted in the hollow hinge 30 between the portions of
the hinge used for these two purposes.
From the foregoing, it wil be appreciated that the vacuum cleaner
10 of the present invention provides an apparatus from which the
recovery tank 20 can be easily and conveniently removed and
replaced in the vacuum cleaner without requiring the connection or
disconnection of any conduits passing to or through the tank 20.
Moreover, the placement of the vacuum fan 32 and its motor 35
provides a relatively low center of gravity for the vacuum cleaner
10 thereby enhancing the ease of handling the vacuum cleaner about
the work area. Further, the vacuum cleaner 10 can be fabricated
conveniently and economically, and can be adapted for use for wet
or dry vacuum cleaning.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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